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For Immediate Release
July 29, 2008
Contact: Tim Rusch, trusch@demos.org, (212) 389-1407
Massachusetts Senate Passes Election Day Registration Bill
National Voting Rights Center Demos Calls for House Vote Before July 31 End of Session
Boston, MA--Today, the Massachusetts Senate passed an "Election Day Registration" (EDR) bill that would allow Commonwealth voters to register and vote on election day as early as November 2008, if signed into law this summer. In response, Miles Rapoport, president of Demos, a national public policy center, and former Secretary of the State of Connecticut, issued the following statement praising the vote and urging the Massachusetts House to vote on the bill before the July 31 end of the 2008 legislative session.
"Today, with bipartisan support, the Massachusetts Senate voted 33 to 5 to pass a critical reform to the Commonwealth's election law--one that could vastly increase voter participation, and which is very straightforward to implement. Voters in 10 other states can register and vote on the same day, and in some of those states that have allowed Election Day Registration for decades and in presidential election years they usually have turnout rates 10 to 12 percentage points over states without EDR. Also, research has shown that with EDR turnout can rise by 4 to 6 percent.
"In fact, earlier this year, Demos published a report showing that, in Massachusetts as elsewhere across the country, voter participation could increase substantially with Election Day Registration--and boost turnout of some historically underrepresented blocs.
"Some of the findings from the 'Election Day Registration in Massachusetts' report include:
--Nationally, in 2004, EDR states had a voter turnout rate of 70.3 percent, versus 54.7 percent in states without EDR.
--In 2004, 59.1 percent of Massachusetts's voting age population cast a ballot in the general election.
--If Massachusetts had EDR, indicators point to a likely boost in turnout of around 5 percent.
--Turnout among those between the ages of 18 to 25 could increase by 9.7 percent.
--Turnout for those who have moved in the last six months could increase by 7.9 percent.
--Turnout for African Americans could increase by 5.6 percent under EDR.
"Also, Election Day Registration is policy that, according to a recently published national survey, is recognized by election clerks as a manageable process that does not lead to increased fraud or problems at the polls.
"The evidence that EDR will work for Massachusetts, and that it is in the voters' best interests, is clear and irrefutable. We applaud the Senate for its strong support for this Election Day Registration bill, and urge the House to take this up immediately, before the session closes, and send the bill to Governor Patrick for a signature so that, on November 4, more voters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can have their voice heard."
For more information on EDR or to schedule an interview with Miles Rapoport, contact Tim Rusch at trusch@demos.org or (212) 389-1407.
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